TWO motorcyclists were killed when their machines were involved in a head-on crash on the North York Moors yesterday.

The crash, which happened on the A169 Whitby to Pickering road, near to the turn-off for Goathland, involved the riders of a silver Honda 600cc and a red Yamaha 1100cc bike.

The Honda rider had been travelling from Whitby, and the Yamaha rider was heading in the opposite direction when the crash happened at about 5.20pm.

Both riders died at the scene. Neither had been carrying pillion passengers.

The identities of the victims will not be released until their next of kin have been told of the tragedy.

The road was closed for more than five hours as accident investigators examined the scene.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or who saw either biker immediately before the crash is asked to call traffic police on (01723) 500300.

The deaths bring the total killed in accidents involving motorcycles in the past month in North Yorkshire to eight.

A woman motorcyclist, who is yet to be named, was killed on Friday when her machine was in collision with a tractor on an unclassified road between Carlton Husthwaite and Husthwaite, near Thirsk.

A pillion passenger was seriously injured in the accident and taken to the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton.